See You in the Cosmos

The next day, Terra suggests driving to Los Angeles if they cannot find Carl Sagan that morning. The four of them look but cannot find him. Alex trusts Terra’s judgement: “I told her I’ll try my best to be brave” (140). Alex rides in Terra’s car. The iPod records their conversation. Terra describes her rocky relationship with Donna, her mother. She receives texts on her phone while driving and puts Alex in charge of answering. Amy Carter agrees to cover Terra’s work shifts. Brandon Mullen texts and Alex asks if he is Terra’s boyfriend. Alex and Terra discuss what constitutes a “fling.” Alex tells Terra his “type” of a woman is someone like astrophysicist Dr. Judith Bloomington, a 49-year-old successful researcher. Alex asks Terra why she isn’t in college, and Terra explains that it did not seem worth the money.

On the way to Los Angeles, Terra wants to go swimming. Alex tells Steve by texting on Terra’s phone. Terra knows a lake for swimming she visited before and Alex comments on her driving: “We took the exit for the lake and then the road got really curvy all of a sudden, and Terra was driving SO fast” (152).